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King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica

This inedible fungus is common in broadleaved woodland, and the fruiting bodies are small, hard, rounded balls which grow on dead trees.

Conservation status

Not under threat.

Details

Did you know?

There is a legend that the Anglo Saxon King Alfred, while escaping war in one of his country homesteads, was put in charge of removing the baked cakes from the oven. Unfortunately he fell asleep and did not remove the cakes which were burnt. The fungus which has the appearance of burnt buns takes its name from this story.

The other name for King Alfred’s cakes is cramp balls. This originates from the tradition that carrying the fungus in your pocket would help prevent cramp.

How to recognise

King Alfred’s cakes fruiting bodies are small, hard rounded balls which grow on dead trees. Each ‘cake’ varies in size from about 2-10cms. When the fruiting bodies first appear they are a reddish brown colour which then over time darkens to a black and becomes shiny. When the fruiting bodies are cut open concentric rings can be seen within.

Where to see

King Alfred’s cakes fungus is common in broadleaved woodland in Britain throughout the year. This species is most often found on dead wood of beech, ash and silver birch trees. It does grow on other broadleaved trees but does not develop such large fruiting bodies. A good place to see King Alfred’s cakes is NWT Lower Wood, Ashwellthorpe.

Related reserves

Related questions & advice

You can’t without identifying the fungus and that is not always easy. Literally thousands of species of fungus occur in Britain; only a few are really good to eat and only a few are deadly poisonous.

The old wives’ tales that only edible fungi have a peelable ‘skin’, do not blacken a silver spoon when cooking and smell like mushrooms, are all totally wrong!

Most fungus fatalities in Britain (about one each year) are caused by Death Cap which has white gills, a ring (or ‘collar’) round the stem and, usually, a greenish cap.

What is the difference between a toadstool and a mushroom?

It depends who you are and where you are! In Britain the word mushroom is usually reserved for members of the genus Agaricus of which nearly 40 species have been recorded (many of them uncommon and difficult to distinguish). Most mushrooms are edible but the Yellow-staining Mushroom is seriously poisonous. All the rest of the fungi with stems and caps (agarics) are lumped together as toadstools. The derivation of this word probably has more to do with tod, German for death, than it does with the amphibian.

In North America the word toadstool is not used at all, and all larger fungi (even non-agarics like bracket fungi) are called mushrooms.

How can I find out more about fungi?

The safest way to learn about fungi is to attend a fungi foray led by an expert. Autumn is a good time of year to see fungi, so look out for guided walks and events in your area during the autumn months. Organisations which host fungi forays include Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Pensthorpe Wildlife and Gardens, and National Trust properties throughout Norfolk. The East of England Tourist Board lists all wildlife events in East Anglia, so this is a good place to keep up to date with any fungi forays happening in your area. See www.visiteastofengland.com for more information. Details of some of the more common fungi species occurring in Norfolk can be found on our website at : https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/species-explorer/fungi . For lots more information about fungi, visit The British Mycological Society website.

How many species of fungi occur in Norfolk?

It is impossible to be completely certain of how many species of fungi occur in a particular locality. Fungi are not a well-studied group, and are easy to miss, as the length of time between the emergence of a fruiting body and its decay can be very short. The British Mycological Society compiles a list of fungi species recorded throughout Britain, called the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland. This database lists 2,289 species of fungi recorded in West Norfolk, and 3,262 species recorded in East Norfolk. If you are interested in the particular species occurring in your area, visit their website (click the link above). It is important to note that while the Fungal Records Database lists all species recorded, many of these species are microscopic - too small to identify with the naked eye - and are usually not listed in field guides.

Surveying fungi - When is the best time to go searching for fungi?

Autumn is often associated with fungi. This is because the fungal mycelia (the part of the fungus usually underground or in wood), having had the warm summer to grow, finds that the damp weather in autumn creates the best conditions in which to fruit. Some years there may be a poor show of fungi - particularly if it has been very dry - so do not expect amazing flushes of fungi every year.

There are of course exceptions to the rules; spring is a good time to look for morels and cup fungi and in winter you may still find oyster mushrooms and jelly ear.

The general rule of thumb for surveying fungi is to head out in the autumn after there has been some steady rain.

Surveying fungi – Where should I look for fungi?

Fungi are often associated with woodlands, and so this is probably a good habitat in which to start looking. In particular, check woods that are well-established with a wide variety of native species – these tend to have the longest fungus lists.

Other good habitats to investigate when surveying fungi include:

Mown (or grazed) grass under isolated, mature trees; these may occur in gardens, parks, cemeteries and even roadside banks.

Dry grassland is an interesting habitat and may be home to waxcaps, pink gills, spindle fungi and earthtongues.

Surveying fungi – How do I carry out a fungi survey?

We have selected 100 fungi that are relatively easy to identify and are found in Norfolk, and we have put them into a fungus identification chart. If you think you have found one, follow these simple steps:

Step 1:

Match your specimen with a photograph in a field guide.

The Field Studies Council (FSC) Fungi name trail, is a useful tool for teachers and students trying to identify fungi in fields and woodlands.

A great book for fungi identification is 'Mushrooms A comprehensive guide to over 1,250 detailed photographs of mushrooms and other fungi'by Roger Phillips.

Step 2:

Check that your fungus has all the ‘must have’ and none of the ‘must not have’ characteristics noted in the identification chart (coming soon).

Step 3:

When you have a positive identification make a note of the record on Survey Form L.

If, when surveying fungi, you find something that looks unusual or distinctive but is not listed in the table or on our website, take a photograph and email it to wild@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk along with your field notes for your identification to be verified.

When submitting a record remember…

Please state the 4 recording Ws. What it is, Where did you see it, When did you see it (including date and time if possible) and Who saw it.